Body Found in River Don Search for Missing 11-Year-Old Boy
Police have discovered a body during the search for an 11-year-old boy who went missing over the weekend. Mackenzie Swift is believed to have entered the River Don near Mexborough on Saturday evening, May 30, prompting an intensive 48-hour search operation.
South Yorkshire Police confirmed that the search was called off at 11 p.m. on June 1 after a body was located. A spokesperson stated: "Mackenzie's family have been informed and have the offer of specialist support. Formal identification will take place in due course."
The alarm was raised when Mackenzie did not resurface after entering the water, according to Yorkshire Live. Chief Superintendent Pete Thorp, district commander for Doncaster, expressed his condolences: "First and foremost, on behalf of all who have been involved in the operation to find Mackenzie since Saturday, I send deepest sympathies to his family and friends. Losing a child is every parent's worst nightmare and I know the impact this news will have on the wider community and particularly Mackenzie's school."
The search involved multiple agencies, including the underwater search team and Woodhead Mountain Rescue, which consists of many volunteers. Thorp added: "While highly trained and skilled, many of their team are volunteers who give up their time to help search teams when they need it most. I would also like to thank the local community, who enabled us to conduct our search and recovery with very few onlookers and cameras to give Mackenzie and his family the dignity they deserve. Not only for that, but also for the offers of assistance - we knew we had many members of the public willing to do anything they could to help."
Further details will be released as the investigation continues.
